Urinary diversion: 30 years experience of a single centre in Republic of Macedonia.

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this report is to present our 30 years experience with various types of urinary diversions, in particular the Bricker and Studer techniques for the management of muscle invasive bladder cancer at our institution. Perioperative, early and late complications are also evaluated.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Between 1977 and 2007, 186 male and 15 female patients underwent combined radical cystectomy, pelvic lymphadenectomy and urinary diversion. In two subgroups of patients we evaluated the complications, divided as early and late, and subdivided as those related or unrelated to the neobladder. Mean follow up time was 28 months (range 12-60 months).

RESULTS

Two main types of urinary diversion were performed: the ileal conduit diversion using a technique previously described by Bricker and the ileal neobladder diversion using a technique previously described by a Studer. The ages at surgery ranged from 40 to 82 years with a mean age of 60 years. Histopathologically, transitional cell carcinoma was the most common tumor cell type (93,7%), followed by difuse papilomatosis (5.5%) and adenocarcinoma (0.7%). The pathological tumor stage was pT1 (4.7%), pT2 (31.4%), pT3 (50.3 %) and pT4a (13,3%). Histological evidence of regional lymph node involvement was seen in 25% of the cases. From 52 patients from the Studer subgroup perioperative complications were found in 16 patients (30.7%). Specific early complications directly related to the neobladder occurred in 14 (26.9%) patients. Prolonged ileus in 2 patient (3.8%), ureteral leakage in 9 patients (17.3%), mucous buildup within the diversion in 3 patients (5.7%). Late complications occurred in 10 patients (19.2%): retention of the urine in 4 patients (7.6%) (stricture of the urethra-pouch anastomosis in one 1 patient) and to big reservoir in 3 patients. One patient (1.9%) developed prolonged metabolic acidosis. Stone formation was observed in one patient, two years postoperatively. Unilateral hydroureteronephrosis was observed in 2 patients whereas bilateral hydroureteronephrosis was observed in one patients at one year postoperatively. Perioperative and late complications were similar in the 32 patients from the Bricker subgroup.

CONCLUSION

We show that our results with urinary diversion are promising in patients requiring radical cystoprostatectomy. The two methods preferred in our institution offer a sufficient protection of the upper urinary tract with a low complication rate, good voiding function and continence.